Adventure Abroad.Plane Rides Around the World.Roman Ruins Explored.Views Overlooking Breath-taking Tuscany atop a Gorgeous Villa.Our little family of three exploring the foggy canals of Venice.Samantha’s Second Celebrity Sighting.Friends Taking a Once in a Lifetime Trip…

Forever Memories Made.

Growing Up I remember watching this Hilarious Movie called Planes, Trains & Automobiles. We always seemed to watch the movie around Christmas time, and my mom would make these yummy movie snacks and we would gather around the TV watching this movie with Chevy Chase & Steve Martin trying to get home for Christmas. It was hilarious, especially when watching from a comfy couch this man and a new friend he meets trying to navigate through foreign towns, cities, airports, cars, trains, planes, hotels, etc.

Our trip was a bit like this movie. Always on the Go. Traveling from one point to the next. Navigating foreign cities, streets, towns and umm….a country. With the help of “walkie-talkies” (Thanks TINNS!), lots of maps, and random Italians we somehow made it through the country in one piece with a Baby on Board.

Samantha Grace was an angel baby. She flew well (pretty much slept the entire flight from LAX to Germany), traveled well (carseat, stroller, front-pack) and took in all the sights & sounds (especially loved all the Italian’s-they love babies!) I learned things to bring & travel with that were LIFESAVERS (baby carrier) and things that we should have LEFT at home (large-and-in-charge-stroller). Before we left I scoured baby travel blogs to get advice on all the “must-have’s” and “must-leave-at-home’s”. Some I agree with-and now- some I definitely do not. I am learning as a mama-each baby (& mama) has a different personality-so every opinion & style is radically different.

The trip began with a 3 hour delay in the LAX airport-exactly what we didn’t want to begin the trip. All worked out though-we enjoyed the airline lounge (AMAZINNNNG) & got on the plane just in time for Samantha’s “at home bedtime”. The flight over was truly easy-I expected the worst- so I was pleasantly surprised that three hours in I was drinking a glass of vino, watching a movie- with baby & hubby snoring and sleeping next to me. That was a TREAT!

We had a lay-over in Frankfort and on to ROME we went. When we landed in Rome we met up with two out of the three couples we traveled with-and navigated our way to our rental cars. UMMMM…..WHAT?! Even though Jordan requested a “large vehicle”- we were greeted by the smallest little dinky car I could imagine. Think “Just Married” size car (it wasn’t THAT small-but I stood there looking at the vehicle thinking THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS WORKING). While Jordan tried to negotiate for “an american size vehicle” (this does not exist in Italy). AND the service man mumbled something to the affect of “YOU AMERICANS…You pack SO much”. I wanted to scream, “YES SIR! WE DO! GET OVER IT!”

THEN I tried to change Samantha’s diaper in the backseat. The moment I took her diaper off, she decided to PEE all over the backseat. (Thankfully, the cloth was BLACK). At this moment-I knew IN MY GUT-this my friends, was now our car for this European Adventure. Samantha had marked our spot.

Jordan came back with a look on his face-and I just knew-we were stuck. I think at that moment, after all that travel-I just started laughing-laughing because we were in a parking lot in Rome, with our baby-across the world-and these were the moments I would forever look back at and cherish. And three weeks later, looking back, they really are!

So much of our trip was defined by moments like that. When I reflect back on those 13 nights “abroad” I really see how life is not about the destination its about the journey. TOTALLY “chessy” phrase, I agree, but its really the best way I can use to describe the trip. Each moment of the trip really is marked by the travel to where we were going and the experience of reaching our “destination” for that day. The moments along the way that make the stories. The songs sung in the car to Samantha (THANK you Aunty Sara!) and the boys navigating themselves around those darn “REACH-AROUND’S”…

The moments & memories that stick out to me now are the “pee on the car” moments. I’m sorry if the below is confusing, not clear, not concise, or too much “inside joke” type points. (Basically, the story of my life and how I communicate-I don’t know if I really EVER make sense).

I just really want to remember these memories. So here it is.

Jordan navigating the streets of ROME at night from the airport following “Wounded Wombat” (we shared two vehicles for the week affectionately named “Purple Penguin” & Wounded Wombat”) while SG & I were squeezed in the backseat peering out the window. We got lost, we got found, we got lost again-all while little vespa’s with 80 year old grandma’s almost ran us off the road.

Seeing Rome! The first day we thought bringing the stroller was genius. Maybe it was the rain, the cold air, the busy streets, or just our mood-but this was such a stupid idea. Of all the days to take the stroller, we probably walked the MOST this day and bringing the baby carrier would have been a MUCH better idea. OH WELL…WHEN IN ROME!

The “boys” carrying the stroller down the Spanish Steps. Hilarious… Thank you!

Trevi Fountain. It was as beautiful as I remember it. Even more sweet & special with Jordan and Samantha. Samantha woke up right in time to see it to!

Lunch at a Roman Restaurant with such “hospitality” they brought me down to their little cellar to feed Samantha. Dinner that night at a horrible restaurant that was going to “nickel & dime” us… We high tailed it out of that restaurant as soon as the “lights went out” (sign to LEAVE) and ended up at a ROMAN GEM. That night was so memorable.

Driving from Rome to Tuscany. Or Shall I say, Driving from Rome to Florence. Back to Rome. Turned around towards Florence. The directions were a BIT confusing.

Seeing the city of Orvieto on the way to Tuscany. Translation: the tennis court, bathrooms and wine selection. I don’t think we really made it to the heart of Orvieto. Darn. LIFE!

Arriving at our Villa in the pitch BLACK- driving dirt roads, using poorly marked signs in the middle of no-where-seeing MONTARATANDO. Heaven.

Buying some interesting items (aka-pump BLEW UP IN ROME) in Volterra. Yes, they are known for the vampires. No, we did not see Edward Cullen.

Exploring Florence. I did not love this city when I visited it years ago, this time, I really enjoyed it. The sun was out. The stores, the little out-door market, the very authentic restaurant we ate at. The parking on the other hand, very confusing & very expensive.

A castle over-looking Tuscany. Great views. Long drive. “CHANTI-CLASSICO” is not Napa. Each winery is an incredible distance to the next. Neat experience. But, in the middle of BFE.

SMA! The incredibly “large Italian” super-market. The size of a small deli here. WE have so many options for groceries. US Americans are SO spoiled!

The lack of good coffee. I know, I know. MANY will disagree, and have. But mama likes her BUX. Iced, blended, hot. Give it to me and don’t get hurt. ITALIANS serve coffee in martini & champagne glasses at GAS STATIONS…. Please, give me a venti-iced coffee and no one will get hurt. I will reserve my alcohol for the glasses. Thank you.

Feeding Samantha on the run. Oatmeal mixed in cars, planes, taxi’s, deli’s-you name it. She ate. It was an experience.

The drive to Pisa. Jordan & I have a little phrase for this one now to describe situations in life. We took this INCREDIBLY long, windy, throw-up in the car drive to PISA that “TOM-TOM” the GPS suggested. On the way home, we just couldn’t stomach it. WE re-directed and it ended up taking so much less time and way on a highway the whole way home!

A special meal shared the last night in Tuscany with Samantha, Jordan & I. Brooke Fraser (who I just adore) playing on the radio, beautiful restaurant, great food, good wine. Cute little town we some how ended up in.

Venice. A city on water. To me, this visit was packed with so much emotion and excitement. When I studied abroad in college, I said to Jordan-if I ever get a chance to re-visit one European city with you in my life, I choose Venice. WE DID IT! We saw it. AND with our daughter. So special. I really feel like it was this secret wish fulfilled that I never really shared how important it was. AGH. SIGH. I love this City. We arrived after lots of driving to the airport. Checked luggage, turned “Purple Penguin” in, and got on a water taxi. It was rainy, cold, windy, over-cast-but I really didn’t care-VENICE! We saw the sights, explored canals, ate gelato, drank wine, had cheeseburgers (0ne at Hard Rock Cafe & the other at our Hilton Hotel-by this point we were SO over Italian food-I know, I know). Took a gondola ride, played in St. Marks Square with the pigeons (Sammy’s FAVORITE!) and met Taylor Swift. Typing that still feels surreal. It was the perfect end to a trip of a lifetime.

Italy provided many learning lessons. Traveling with a baby tested our parenting skills, there was a lot about scheduling I thought before would make and break my LIFE if I didn’t follow. I realized how resilient Samantha was. How when she needed sleep, we knew it! She adjusted to the time difference there and the time difference here with not much issue. She was easier than me at adjusting! It really reminded me to stress less, trust my GUT more, pray with passion and to not sweat the small stuff.

I can also say I honestly continually looked at my hubby, Samantha’s sweet daddy– and thought to myself so many moments-“How did I get this lucky”?! I prayed so much of my life for him-he is incredible. My best friend, my travel partner, my parenting perspective. I loved this experience we shared together. At times I was SO excited. He shared this excitement with me. At times I was exhausted-he calmed me. At the times I needed laughter-we laughed hard. At the moments I needed to discuss. He talked. And I know he hates re-discussing topics I love re-hashing. He always gives that sense of “sharing the burden” with. And always gives the sense of “sharing the JOY with”. Life is so much easily more “navigated” with someone. The trip was a JOY because of him. Because of special, sweet friends who bring laughter, love and so much life to my existence. Because Samantha Grace saw Italy-she will never remember it-but we will share with her the stories, show her the pictures, and maybe some day in the FAR future they will still blog…and she will read this and know how much we love her, how much I love sharing life’s adventures with her and showing her that her GOD has created a big play-ground and to remind her to get OUT and explore.

G-Mama also shed a tear..or two…reading this…knowing that she has the best daughter and son-in-law in the whole wide world and the BEST granddaughter ever!! (Finally…got a real run-down of the trip!!) More pictures, please!